Firestone Partners with RubberDucks as The Duck Club's title sponsor
(AKRON, OHIO) April 11, 2016 - The Akron RubberDucks and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations have entered into a five-year partnership to make Firestone the title sponsor of The Duck Club, Canal Park's premier special event space, which will now be called, "The Duck Club by Firestone."
The agreement runs through the 2020 season and includes prominent ballpark signage, website and ticket recognition, an outfield wall billboard, and sponsorship of the fireworks spectacular on July 15, when the theme will be a tribute to The Eagles.
"We are thrilled to have iconic brands like Bridgestone/Firestone as part of the pageantry of Canal Park and specifically as the presenting sponsor of The Duck Club by Firestone. The rubber industry is a major part of the city's roots and heritage, and we are proud to partner with Firestone to offer a world-class event space for our community at Canal Park," said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander.
The RubberDucks nickname is directly tied to Akron's reputation as the "Rubber Capital of the World." Much of that reputation is tied to the Firestone brand. In 1900, Harvey S. Firestone established the company in Akron, and it employed thousands of the city's citizens and helped Akron grow into a major economic force. Today, Bridgestone is still a major Akron corporate supporter with its $100 million Bridgestone Americas Technical Center that opened in 2012, located in the Firestone Park area.
"Bridgestone is proud to support the Akron community and the RubberDucks with the Firestone sponsorship of the Duck Club. Baseball is America's pastime, so the Firestone brand is a natural fit," said Steve Charles, Bridgestone's Vice President of Product Development.
The Duck Club by Firestone is part of the $7 million that has been privately invested into Canal Park since 2012. It is a unique event space that is perfect spot for social events, celebrations, and business gatherings. The Duck Club features a flexible chef-driven catering menu, state-of-the-art audio and video technology, and unprecedented views of Canal Park. Akron's premier event facility is the perfect place to capture all of the "affordable family fun" of Akron RubberDucks baseball. Seating for games is located in the club level and includes both indoor and outdoor patio choices.
The Duck Club by Firestone is available on non-game dates by contacting RubberDucks Restaurant Catering and Sales Manager Linda Borrelli at [email protected] or by calling 330-253-5151, ext. 210. To reserve it for a RubberDucks game, contact the group ticket sales department at 330-253-5151 or by emailing [email protected]. More information is also included on www.akronrubberducks.com.
The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2016 season is its 20th since moving to Akron and third since becoming the RubberDucks. Akron will host the Eastern League All-Star Game and festivities July 12-13, and the Home Opener is at Canal Park on Thursday, April 14 vs. Bowie Baysox at 6:35 p.m. For more information about the team, please visit the RubberDucks' website, www.akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, Twitter feed @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram at @akronrubberducks.